Factbox: Yunupingu's achievements

Tributes are pouring in for former Yothu Yindi frontman Dr M. Yunupingu, who died this week aged 56. Here is a look back at his achievements. (Warning: This story contains an image of a deceased person.)

Tributes are pouring in for former Yothu Yindi frontman Dr M. Yunupingu, who died this week aged 56. Here is a look back at his achievements.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

* The first indigenous Australian from Arnhem Land to achieve a university degree

* Formed Yothu Yindi in 1986, combining Aboriginal (Yolngu) and non-Aboriginal (balanda) musicians and instrumentation

* Became Australia's first Aboriginal principal when appointed head of Yirrkala Community School in 1990

* Established Yothu Yindi Foundation in 1990 to promote Yolngu cultural development, including Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures

* Wrote the song Treaty with Paul Kelly and his Yothu Yindi band mates Stuart Kellaway, Cal Williams, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Milkayngu Mununggurr and Witiyana Marika

* Named 1992 Australian of the Year for building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities

* Yothu Yindi won eight ARIA awards, including 1992 Song of the Year for Treaty, and a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission songwriting award

* Band toured the US and Canada as support act for Midnight Oil and released six albums: Homeland Movement (1988); Tribal Voice (1991); Freedom (1993); Birrkuta - Wild honey (1996); One Blood (1998); and Garma (2000)

* In 2001, Treaty makes Australasian Performing Right Association's Top 30 Australian songs of all time

* Yothu Yindi inducted into ARIA Hall Of Fame in 2012 and performed at the ceremony with Peter Garrett, Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan and Jessica Mauboy

* Dr M. Yunupingu dies aged 56 at his home in Yirrkala, NT, after battling renal disease.

UPDATE: June 5 -The family of Dr M. Yunupingu says they are now comfortable with his image being published.

(AAP)